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Ferrigno Joins Ducks' Staff as Wide Receivers Coach

EUGENE - Dan Ferrigno (pronounced Fuh-REEN-yo), who has accumulated 16 years of experience as an assistant coach in the Pacific-10 Conference and nine within the state of Oregon, has been hired to coach the wide receivers at the University of Oregon, according to head football coach Mike Bellotti.

Ferrigno replaces Chris Petersen, who departed after six seasons to become offensive coordinator at Boise State.

The 47-year-old San Francisco native tutored the wide receivers and special teams at USC a year ago and has spent all but five of his 26-year coaching career concentrating on the offensive side of the football since earning All-America honors as a wide receiver at San Francisco State.

Prior to joining the Trojans' staff last season, Ferrigno spent the previous four years coaching wide receivers and tight ends at California after serving as an assistant coach at Oregon State from 1987 through 1995.

A year ago, he aided in the development of USC sophomore Kareem Kelly, who finished the season third in the Pac-10 in receptions (55 catches for 796 yards), as the Trojans ranked third in the league in passing offense (262.3 avg.) while leading the conference in total offense (415.9 avg.).

Included among the standouts Ferrigno has tutored during his career are NFL All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, as well as first-team all-conference special teams stalwarts Nick Harris and Deltha O'Neal at California, and NFL defensive back Reggie Tongue at Oregon State in 1995.

'I have known of Dan for almost 30 years and have personally been acquainted with him for the last 20 years, and have come to know him as an exceptional football coach, recruiter and a person,' Bellotti said. 'He develops great rapport with his players and fellow coaches, and brings with him extensive experience in the Pac-10. I believe he will have a tremendous impact on our program.'

After breaking into the coaching profession as an assistant coach at San Francisco's St. Ignatius High School in 1975, he initiated his college coaching career as wide receivers and tight ends coach at San Francisco State in 1978, where he was later inducted into his alma mater's athletic hall of fame in 1992. Following a one-year stint at Pacific and two years as a graduate assistant at California (1980-81), Ferrigno began a five-year stay at Western Michigan in 1982, serving as offensive coordinator his final two seasons.

He began a four-year term coaching the running backs and special teams at Oregon State in 1987 before shifting to the defense to mentor its secondary in 1991 and `95. He coached the Beavers' outside linebackers from 1992-94.

Ferrigno then migrated south to instruct the tight ends and special teams at California in 1996 before shifting his emphasis to the Golden Bears' wide receivers in 1999.

The former Riordan High School prep received his undergraduate degree in physical education in 1975 from San Francisco State, where he still holds the school's career records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Following his collegiate career, he signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos before returning to his alma mater to earn his teaching credentials in 1978.